Apparatus for picking cotton from the boll.



0. 0. EARLB. APPARATUS FOR PICKING COTTON FROM THE BOLL.

APPLICATION FILED HAYBO, 1910. k Patented Sept. 20, 1910.

i To all whom 'it may concern:

COURTLAND C. EARLE, 0F PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

and conveying the cotton to asuitable gathering receptacle for storage to ginning.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cotton picker. in a manner. as here nafter set forth whereby the cotton is removed from the boll by suction which will permit of one or more laborers expeditiously pickingthe cotton without being subjectedto the'load of the cotton or to any other work other than holding a suction nozzleiii proximity to a boll containing cotton or in proximity to a piece of cotton that adheres .to the plant or has fallen upon the ground.

'Further objects of the invention are to provide a cotton picker in a manner as hereinafter set forth and which shall be simple in its construction, strong, durable, efiicient in its use, readily, set up in operative position for the picking of the cotton, and inexpensive to manufacture.

With theforegoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel constructlon, combination and arrangement ofparts as hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which come within the scope of the claims hereunto throughout the several views: Figure 1 is a side elevation "of a cotton picker in accordance wlth this invention,

' arrow in Fig. 1, and, Fig. 3 is a plan of the nletg-pipe connection and further showing.-

Fig. 2 is an end viewlOOkiIlg in the direction of the suction head. Referring to the drawings in detail, 1 tie a pairfof picking tubes, each provided with notes a portable support upon which is Specification of Letters Patent.

' Application filed May 20, 1910. Serial No. 562,380.

APPARATUS FOR PICKING COTTON FROM THE. BOLL.

Patented Sept-20,1910.

mounted a ba'seplate 2. .The support l is I formed with an opening 3'through which extends a stem i'depending from the lower face ofthe base plate 2 whereby tl' e' lat-tr is pivotally-mounted upon the support'-l Arranged at one end of the base plate 2 is an upright 5 provided at its upper-send with a motor 6 of any suitable construction,

the shaft of the motor 6 being indicated by the reference character 7 and projecting from the motor 6 and connected to-a suction fan 8 which is supported upon the base plate 2 in proximity to the upright 5.

Extending at right angles with respect to the suction fan 8 is a-frusto-conical member 9- .which communicates through the opening The member constitutes'an inletfor the fan 8 and is connected to the fan casing-by the secured in'position by the securing deyices .1]. and extending through this platellis an inlet pipe 12, the latter being fixedly secured tothe plate 11. The suction fan. 8 is provided with an outlet pipe 9 which com- -municates with a suitable receptacle (not shown) for storing the cotton prior to the ginning of the latter. The air inlet pipe 12 is provided'with a valve'15 for regulating the supply of air and said pipe 12 is furthermore provided with a'pair of branches 13, 14 to each of which is attached a flexible picking tube 16 having its outer end provided with asuction head 17. The valve 15 is provided for regulating the air according to the degree of suction required to with- .draw the cotton from its boll. The suction headsareof circular contour and of such diameter as toenable them to receive the largest growth of cotton. By pivot-ally mounting the base 2 upon the portable support l,

the base can be swung in any desired position duringthe operation of picking the cotton. The support 1 may form part of a wagon-bodyif desired.

From the construction described, it is obvious that the suction created by the fan 8' will remove'the cotton from the boll and transfer it to the member 9, and then through the suction fan casing to the discharge pipe, from where it will be conducted -to asuitable receptacle for containing the cotton prior to the ginning operation. The eotton on its travel will pass through the head 17 and through the tube 16 and thence T v :"t-INITED sTATEs -PATENT oFFioE.

.10 with the interior of the suction fan 8.

securing devices 10. The large end of the member 9 is closed'by a plate 11 which isinto the inlet' pipe and ironi there into the member 9. The passage of the air through the pipe 12-creates a vacuum in the tube 16 and operates in the same manner as an aspirajpr.

- passes in front of the fan 8 and is blown by the latter through the 'pipe9 to the receptacle designed to' receive it. The member 9' being frust0-conical aids to preventsediswing about a substantially vertical axis, a'

power-driven suction device 'mounted on said base-plate and having an inlet and an outlet, a frusto-conical member oomm'uni: eating with the inlet, an air supply pipe opening into one end ofv said member, a plurality of suction tubes communicat ng with said pipe intermediate its ends, a suction head mounted on each tube and of a size to receive a cotton boll, and a'v'alve car- 'ried by said pipe in proximity to its outer end for regulatlng the airaccording to the degree of suction required to withdraw thecotton from its bol g 2. In a cotton-picking apparatus, the combination with a portable support, a baseplate pivotally mounted on said support to swing about a substantially vertical axis, a

From the member '9 the cotton suction device mounted on saidlba'se-plate and having an inlet and an outlet, powerdrive'n means to; tiperate said suction device,

" a horizontal 'frusto-conical member communicating with the inlet of said suction device and having its outer end closed, on air inlet pipe extendin through the outer,end of said member, -a exible tube communicating with'said pipe, a cup-shaped nozzle secured on the free end of said tube and designed to receive the cotton boll, and a valve of air through the latter.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, thecombination with the portable' support 1, of the base-plate 2 having astem 4 to vswing about a substantially vertical axis on said support, a casing mounted on said plate and provided with an inlet=and an outlet, the'fan 8- mounted within said casing, the motor 6 to drive said fan, the frustcrconical member 9 communicating with the inlet of said casing, the plate 11 closing the outer end of said cylinder and carried bysaid pipe to regulate the inflow having a projecting air pipe 12 communicate ing with said 'frusto-conical member, the

regulating'valve 15 carried .by said pipe, the flexible suction tubes 16, 16 communicating with said pipe, and a cup-shaped nozzle 17 secured on the free end of each tube.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

G URTLAND O. EARLEJ Witnesses:

Jn'zEI-r P. JENNINGS, PHILIP E. THOMAS. 

